They are terrifically good, if not altogether surprising, choices, as they have both played with Sarah Moule, although not on recordings.

I caught both live at the 2004 Coventry Jazz Festival, Dodds drumming for the Jacqui Dankworth and her Musicians line-up and Hodgson in the line-up of Bill Bruford's Earthworks (featuring Tim Garland) and I thought them both pretty good live.

Yes, I'm unashamedly plugging Irish jazz artists. I don't apologise, simply because the opportunities remind people that my homeland does have a small but thriving jazz scene are about as rare as hen's teeth. Talking of teeth, I should add that Tobin cut her jazz teeth after she moved to England - so she can't be said to be part of the Irish scene.

I thought it was about time to start looking for accommodation in Bristol for 21st June. At present the Bristol Central Travelodge is offering room only at £49. Not particularly glamorous but pleasantly cheap for anyone not on expenses. I know at least 2 MVs are staying there.

Nothing wrong with Travelodges! They are/were the most favoured source of accommodation on all of James & Atkin's UK tours.

And as far as the musos go, please let no one be concerned that their track record is an indication that I'm going to be going all jazzy. Sure, there are elements, but then there always were. These guys are simply top-end musicians who can do just about anything at all, and they've all played on all kinds of stuff. Roy (drums), for instance, was the drummer in Fairground Attraction, and is still Eddi Reader's first choice. I'm sufficiently excited by how it's all going that I'm very much hoping - intending - that we'll be able to come up with some other gigs together somewhere at some point. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. (No support, by the way, at St George's - 'fraid it's Atkin/James all the way - so be there, or, as my friend Dave says, be somewhere else.)

Nothing wrong with Travelodges! They are/were the most favoured source of accommodation on all of James & Atkin's UK tours.

You just need to remember that they don't provide any of those little bottles so take your own shampoo, shower gel and gin. And a hairdrier.

Not entirely unconnected is this link on Clive's website: http://www.clivejames.com/lyrics/programme It reminded me of the Shrinks gig when the support was Pete Atkin (with band) at the Polish Club in Bristol and Pete presented the assembled Midnight Voices with a carrier bag of muesli bars "left over from the tour".

Jan said: 'It reminded me of the Shrinks gig when the support was Pete Atkin (with band) at the Polish Club in Bristol and Pete presented the assembled Midnight Voices with a carrier bag of muesli bars "left over from the tour". '

So how long before we see them offered for sale on e-bay?

And did Clive find that the Cherry Ripe chocolate bars were as good as he remembered, or were they just a mess of sticky cochineal?

Of course, the literalists here in Completists' Corner moved to DefCon1 in an instant.

A brief rummage brought to light a Sainsbury's Chewy & Crisp Cereal Bar (with Chocolate Chip & Nut to boot). In deeper strata of the archive I'm sure there are different confections to be discovered, and all from the occasion which Jan mentioned.

What I need is for someone to write an item description that could con an unsuspecting e-bayer into bidding for one...

Andy, do you mean you have an actual bar and not just a wrapper? What a completist! Although somewhere in my loft is a flyer of similar age for an Amos Garrett concert in Bristol - and a setlist dated 2nd May 2002.

This is not a bright and breezy message I'm afraid. MV 'Fixture' and all round lovely chap Paul Gunningham has been badly hurt in a car crash and is in hospital. This happened in March and it was only a few days ago that he made enough progress to talk a little. It looks like being a long haul. His wife Frankie, who a lot of us know from various gigs, was also hurt but not so badly, broken arm and collar bone. I'm sure we all join together to send our very very best wishes for a full recovery to them both.

They had booked two tickets for St George's on June 21st and despite Frankie phoning the box office and explaining the situation, St George's will not refund unless the concert is fully booked and they can re-sell. So, can anyone who was thinking of going but not yet decided, take them off Frankie's hands? Centre stalls, E6 & 7, £15 each, no booking fee.

Probably best to IM me, or e-mail me (you know the address - yes you do) to save Frankie any more distractions and we can sort it out from there. First come.... take them if you can please.

Brings home the limitations of the Web - you don't know why a Fixture's stopped posting. St George's returns policy has the one benefit that we got to hear about Paul from Frankie, and can put collective mind-power into wishes for speedy recovery. As Paul's talking I hope it won't be long before he gets to read them here!

All the best & get back soon, Paul - I'm missing those Adge Cutler cultural references....

Carole has pointed out that there is a crypt bar at St. George's (http://www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/harrysbarandcafe.php) which would make an obvious place for pre-, inter-, and post-concert sclonching on the 21st. We should take a moment to drink to the memory of our friend, Paul.

The cafe bar at St George's serves meals. I haven't eaten there for about three years but the food used to be of the quiche/pizza/lasagne/jacket potatoes and salad variety. I've started a group booking for the Midnight Voices with the box office (0845 4024001). At present there are three of us, Keith Busby, Nedd and myself. It opens at 6.30, eat at 6.45pm. Let the box office know if you want to join us, 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm on Sat, open later until the interval on concert days, tomorrow and most days from Thursday. If you're in the area St George's have got their Midsummer Festival next weekend, usually very lovely, if you can get a ticket!

BTW There are loads of other restaurants of all varieties in the vicinity.